BE Y
the Newsletter of The Barbados Yacht Club
MESSAGE FROM YOUR COMMODORE
TENNIS NEWS
SAILING NEWS
BYC NOTICE
Fellow members,
I want to address a matter that is very concerning to us, your Committee
Recently, in response to complaints from you, our members, about the use and abuse of the Club by non-members, we took the decision to implement a temporary measure to address this issue as best we could at this time. This measure saw the removal of the credit card machine from the Bar and Restaurant area
I mentioned in February’s Bellbuoy, that more information would be forthcoming,
and our General Manager provided that information in her weekly updates. We accept that the communication could have been a lot better, and for that, I apologise.
However, while I am not aware of any official complaints being made, information reaching us was that there was abuse of our staff when this policy came into effect. This is totally unacceptable.
Our staff plays no part in making these policy decisions and therefore your frustrations should not be taken out on them. The Committee, with recommendations brought from the various sub-committees from time to time, makes the decisions regarding policy and asks our management team to implement these decisions. If there are any concerns from among the general membership, these concerns should therefore be directed to the Committee via our General Manager.
In our September 2024 edition of the Bellbuoy, I spoke of respect Respect to each other as members, from staff to members and from members to staff. I asked that we all treat each other with respect and accept our differences as human beings.
I want to go a step further in this edition.
Rule 16)a)i) speaks to the conduct of members and the powers of the Committee where, in its opinion, the conduct of the member has been improper or injurious to the interests or good order of the Club.
We value all of our members. We do want to have a Club in which all persons are respected We expect our staff to be respectful to you or members, and similarly, we expect members to be respectful to the staff, as well as to other members.
We hope that you can temper your reactions, even on those days where everything seems to go wrong, and treat each other with the respect that you would expect to be accorded from others.
Thank you for your listening ear. I look forward to your cooperation in this regard.
Respectfully,
Your Commodore
Update from the Tennis Committee
The annual Inter-Club Tennis Tournament was in full swing this past month with BYC playing against teams from the National Tennis Centre, namely “Tennis Centre” and “Pure Tennis”, as well as Summerhayes Tennis Club All ties were well contested!
The competition is comprised of two stages this year; a group stage featuring six teams and a knockout phase featuring the top four teams from the group stage. BYC finished second after the group stage, finishing a close second this time to Tennis Centre.
As I write the competition is at the semifinal stage. We host Summerhayes on Saturday 29th March, starting at 2:30 p.m. and will provide an update with the results in due course. The final will be held at the National Tennis Centre on Saturday, 5th April starting at 2:30 p m
We’ve been elated with the support received from our members and hope to see you around for the semi-final and, hopefully, the final.
Looking further ahead, National coach Damien Applewhaite and his coaching team will be hosting an Easter Tennis Camp for all levels. The camp is open to players ages 5 and up. It is scheduled to run for two separate weeks, from 7th-11th and from 13th-17th April Any last-minute registrants can contact the Office for more info.
Noah Haynes Tennis Sub-Committee Chairman
Good Times, Great Company, and Looking Ahead
As we sail into the Easter season, March has brought with it a wonderful wave of activity at the Club. It’s been a month filled with camaraderie, great food, and most importantly a chance to enjoy the simple pleasure of gathering with fellow members in this beautiful setting we call home. One of the clear highlights of the month was our St. Patrick’s Day Beach Buffet, which brought the festive spirit ashore in the best possible way.
The event was thoughtfully planned by our dedicated Entertainment Committee and executed seamlessly by our talented Food and Beverage Team The turnout was fantastic, and it was truly heartening to see everyone enjoying a relaxed day of good food, good cheer, and lots of laughter. Whether you came for the food, the beachside views, or simply for the company, we hope you left with a smile (and maybe a little extra green in your heart).
While we’re proud of how smoothly the event ran, we also recognize that there’s always room to improve the member experience
Over the past few weeks, we’ve noted some delays at the bar during peak times. This is something we’re taking seriously, and we’re actively exploring solutions to help streamline service, especially as we approach the summer months, when activity at the Club tends to ramp up.
In the meantime, we appreciate your patience as we work behind the scenes to make these improvements. After all, the goal is always to ensure that your time at the Club is as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible.
Looking ahead, we’re planning to send out a brief survey to our members in the coming weeks This will help guide us as we review and refresh the menu offerings, ensuring they continue to reflect what you love and maybe introduce a few new favourites along the way Your feedback is invaluable, and we truly hope you’ll take a few moments to share your thoughts when the survey lands in your inbox.
March has been a reminder of all the things that make this Club special: the people, the sense of community, and the shared enjoyment of time well spent. As the Food and Beverage team and Committee looks forward to the coming months, we remain committed to fostering an atmosphere that’s welcoming, relaxed, and responsive to your needs
Here’s to many more enjoyable evenings at the Club and another beachside buffet or two.
Best regards,
Simon Parravicino Food and Beverage Sub-Committee Chairman
Results of the Avril Parker Dinghy Regatta, sponsored by the Parker family and sailed over three Sundays in February and March.
ILCA 7 Class
1st Jason Tindale
2nd Joseph Whelan
3rd Jethro Oxford Pope
O’pen Skiff Class
1st Nelson Hope
2nd Lillian Spiceland
3rd Oliver Judd
ILCA 6 Class
1st Holly Trew
2nd Aaron Stewart
3rd Samuel Whelan
Sunfish Class
1st Dylan Mahon
2nd Alexander McGaw
3rd Brennan Watson
ILCA 4 Class
1st Savannah Stuart
2nd Amabel Chase
3rd Leenah Nagdee
Optimist Green Fleet
1st Jozef Dass
2nd Andrew Hoad
3rd Sebastian Harvey-Read
Results of the Lucky Horseshoe Offshore Regatta 2025, sponsored by Lucky Horseshoe and sailed on Sunday, 16th March.
1st Greg Webster and crew on Phoenix
2nd Gus Reader and crew on Glory Daze
3rd Jason Tindale and crew on A-Salt Weapon
Making Merry in March
St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in grand style with a beach BBQ and music for dancing by DJ Chris Burke To add to the occasion, the Restaurant and Bar were gaily decorated with green balloons and several members wore green swimsuits or coverups. DJ Chris started with an hour of Irish music and then transitioned to contemporary music which had members tapping their feet, singing along and dancing up to closing time.
The BBQ was a resounding success and was sold out, whilst members took full advantage of the Drinks Specials on offer. The Committee recognized that there was a long line up for drinks most of the day and we thank you for your patience Going forward, plans will be put in place to set up an auxiliary bar for events to serve you better and keep the drinks flowing.
The music for the Last Friday Night Party will be provided by DJ Naldo so put on your dancing shoes and come down for an evening of fun and relaxation. Bring your friends to party with you.
Looking forward, we are planning an Easter Egg Hunt for kids 10 and under on Easter morning. Details will be released shortly so stay tuned. Meanwhile, continue to enjoy the wonderful amenities of our Club and remember that feedback is always welcome.
Gillian Leach Entertainment Committee
Dear Members,
In relation to Member Services, our committee is currently evaluating and seeking to improve the process for members to raise issues that may relate to all aspects of the Club and its activities. Steps have already been taken in this regard which will bring clarity to the procedures that should be taken. Once implemented, members will have a clear appreciation for the timelines in place as it relates to feedback and follow up. This is in keeping with the aim for further transparency so that the members are assured of what action is being taken as it relates to their issues or suggestions
From an HR perspective, we enhanced the complement of advisors who continue to guide the Club in these matters to better and more quickly resolve challenges as they arise. This appears to be working well.
Donna Murray Finance & Administration Manager
The Barbados Yacht Club welcomes Ms Donna Murray as our new Finance and Administration Manager effective 3rd March 2025.
Donna is the holder of the CPA and CGA professional Accounting designations and holds a Diploma in Business from the University of Cambridge. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados. Donna has over 30 years of experience in Accounting and Finance which included roles in retail, fast food restaurants, hospitality, and distribution.
Donna is a keen Chess player having represented Barbados in competitions overseas.
Feel free to visit our office and meet Donna and the members of her accounting team
Ms. Alix James General Manager
Over the past 35 years, while working in sports tourism, operations management and the retail sector, Ms James has developed a reputation as a resourceful, detail-oriented, tenacious Manager.
The Barbados Yacht Club will benefit from her pleasant, approachable demeanor, willingness to listen and intentional focus on the delivery of service excellence. Alix’s years of experience are built on her Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management from the University of the West Indies, Cavehill and her Masters in Human Resources Management from the University of Surrey.
Alix is an avid gardener and pet lover, who enjoys the company of her dogs, and supporting the Boy Scouts Association of Barbados, Kiwanis Clubs of Barbados and being a Director of the Wheelchair Foundation of Barbados.
There is an open-door policy in effect in the General Manager’s office, and Alix is always available for a quick chat with our members.
